Inheritance Share Calculator for Bulgaria
Short answer
How is an estate divided by law in Bulgaria?
If there is no will, the children inherit in equal shares and the surviving spouse receives a share equal to that of each child (Art. 5 and Art. 9 Inheritance Act). With no children, the spouse receives 1/2 (or 2/3 if the marriage lasted more than 10 years) and the rest goes to the parents or, if there are none, to the siblings. If the deceased leaves only a spouse, the spouse inherits everything.
| Heir | Statutory share | Amount | Reserved share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disposable share (can be left freely by will) | — |
Siblings have no reserved share. Where the spouse inherits together with siblings, we recommend having a lawyer check the spouse's reserved share for the specific case.
If the spouses held property jointly (matrimonial community property), the surviving spouse first keeps their own half of it. Only the deceased's half forms part of the estate.
The calculator applies the rules of the Bulgarian Inheritance Act (ЗН) to the most common situations. It does not cover representation by grandchildren beyond one generation, grandparents, more distant relatives, unworthiness to inherit, renunciation of the inheritance or foreign applicable law. The result is not legal advice.
How does the calculator work?
Statutory heirs are called in classes – a closer class excludes a more distant one. Children exclude parents and siblings; parents exclude siblings. The surviving spouse inherits alongside whichever class is called.
- Children: they inherit equally, and the spouse receives as much as one child (Art. 5 and Art. 9(1) Inheritance Act). Children from different marriages and adopted children inherit on equal terms.
- No children: the spouse receives 1/2, or 2/3 if the marriage lasted more than 10 years. The rest is divided between the parents (Art. 6 and Art. 9(2) Inheritance Act).
- No children and no parents: the rest goes to the siblings. Half-siblings receive half the share of full siblings.
- No children, parents or siblings: the spouse inherits everything (Art. 9(3) Inheritance Act).
What is the reserved share?
The reserved share is the portion the law guarantees to children, the spouse and parents even where there is a will or there were gifts (Art. 28 and Art. 29 Inheritance Act). The rest is the disposable share – it can be left by will or given to anyone. Siblings have no reserved share.
If a will or a gift infringes the reserved share, the heir can ask the court to reduce it. The reserved share is calculated on the whole estate, with lifetime gifts added back to it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the spouse inherit if there are children?
The spouse receives a share equal to that of each child. With two children, the spouse and the children each inherit 1/3; with three children, 1/4 each.
Do children from a previous marriage inherit?
Yes. All children of the deceased inherit equally – from every marriage, born outside marriage and adopted. A new spouse does not reduce their rights.
Does an unmarried partner inherit in Bulgaria?
No. Cohabitation without marriage gives no statutory inheritance rights, however long it lasted. The partner can receive property only under a will, and only within the disposable share.
Can a parent leave everything to one of the children?
Only within the disposable share. The other children and the spouse keep their right to a reserved share and can ask for the will to be reduced.
What happens if one of the children died before the parent?
That child's own children – the grandchildren of the deceased – step into their place and share equally the portion the child would have received (Art. 10 Inheritance Act). In the calculator, count such a child as one child.
If you live abroad or are not a Bulgarian citizen
Many heirs live outside Bulgaria, and some of the deceased lived abroad or held another nationality. This is what changes in those cases.
Do these shares apply if the deceased lived abroad?
Not always. Under EU Succession Regulation No 650/2012, succession is as a rule governed by the law of the country where the deceased had their habitual residence at the time of death. If they lived in Germany, for example, German law applies – to property in Bulgaria as well. In a will, they may instead choose the law of the country of their nationality.
I live in the UK or the USA – does the EU Regulation still matter?
Yes. Bulgarian courts and notaries apply Regulation 650/2012 even when it points to the law of a non-EU country, including the UK after Brexit. If the deceased was habitually resident in England or the USA, that law is the starting point, but it may refer back to Bulgarian law for real estate in Bulgaria. A British or US national can also choose the law of their nationality in a will. We check each case individually.
Can I accept or renounce an inheritance in Bulgaria without travelling?
Yes. Almost every step – the certificate of heirs, searches, the inheritance tax return, acceptance subject to inventory, renunciation, the sale of a property – can be handled by an attorney-in-fact in Bulgaria. You need a detailed power of attorney, certified at a Bulgarian consulate or before a local notary with an apostille and a translation.
Can I inherit land in Bulgaria as a foreigner?
Yes. The Bulgarian Constitution allows foreigners to acquire land through statutory inheritance, including citizens of non-EU countries such as the UK or the USA.
What is the European Certificate of Succession?
It is a document that proves your status as an heir in other EU member states without further procedures. It is useful when the estate includes property or bank accounts in several EU countries. It is not available for use in non-EU countries such as the UK or the USA, where local procedures apply.
Is inheritance tax payable in Bulgaria?
The spouse, children and parents pay no inheritance tax in Bulgaria. Siblings and other heirs pay a tax set by the municipality if their share exceeds the statutory threshold. The country where you live may impose its own tax obligations – the UK and the USA, for example, have their own rules – so check them there as well.
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